Russo Discusses Spread of New COVID-19 Strains

Experts now estimate that a person infected with the COVID-19 variant from the United Kingdom (called B.1.1.7) may spread the virus to, on average, 1.5 people, while someone with the “standard” COVID-19 strain may pass the virus to about 1.1 people. But Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, says it is important to note that, at this point, the data does not definitively say that B.1.1.7 is more contagious. While Russo says it is “likely the case” that the genetic makeup of these new variants does make them more contagious, he also points out the possibility that a phenomenon called the “founder effect” could be playing a role in the spread.